IN YOUR OPINION

Letters to the Editor for July 4, 2013

Published: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 10:16 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 3, 2013 at 10:16 p.m.

Know the driving laws

Hopefully we are back into our normal afternoon shower season.

Driving to and from home Tampa Sunday I was amazed at the number of drivers who used their four-way flashers during the rain. It is, as I understand, against the law. Not only that, many cars didn’t have their lights on.

Let this be a reminder to these “old” laws while we familiarize ourselves with the new laws that were enacted and put into effect this week.

Midge Lee

Ocala

Stop the foolishness

I have been fuming for days over the treatment of Paula Deen. This woman has worked hard all her life and is now being crucified for being honest. What is this world coming to?

I am seriously thinking of boycotting Walmart and others who have taken away all that she has worked so long for. It is time to stop this foolishness about everything being racist. Let’s face it: Racism is a two-way street. We are all Americans, no matter our skin color or where we were brought up. I went to live in New York and was surprised to learn that people who said ‘dese, dem and does’ plus ‘Toidy Toid and Toid Street’ thought I was the one with an accent.

My motto is and always has been “equal rights for all, special privileges for none.” Be confident in your own skin and stop worrying about what others say and do. I personally think President Barack Obama is the worst leader this country has ever been subjected to, and it has nothing to do with the color of his skin. If it makes people happy to think I’m a racist, so be it. That is their problem, not mine.

Lorena Frazier

Ocala

All created equal

Back in 1776, some men got together and formulated a document intended to form a new land with a new system of government. One statement in the document says “All men are created equal.” In their time this did not include women or people of African heritage. Since that time, women and people of African heritage have won the right to be included in the aforementioned statement of equality. This was not an easy task. Certainly there has been tremendous progress in our treatment of the voting process. The Supreme Court has deemed that enough progress has been made in the area of voting laws that preclearance for law changes is no longer needed. While in the greater sense this is true, there remains opportunities to make changes intended to hinder some voter participation. Such was the case with the voting law in Florida. It was not a pretty picture.

While government oversight is unpopular, it is sometimes beneficial to the health and well-being of our nation. A previous writer quoted former President John F. Kennedy: “Ring the bells of freedom.” Absolutely! Let it ring for every citizen of this great country, regardless of gender, race, religion or national heritage. Without checks and balances we will see repetition of what happened in Florida throughout our country. I, for one, cannot see this as a good thing.

Deborah Parsons

Ocala

Immigration reform?

Welcome to “immigration reform.” Is this a great country or what?

The Senate copied the Obamacare back room tactics with their immigration legislation.

Once again, the “more equal than others” such as Sen. Harry Reid got paid off with political financial payoffs. Once again the bill was created and totally controlled by a few in the back room. Once again, few if any amendments were permitted, and those allowed did not do what they promised. Once again, no one read the bill.

The critical issue of this legislation is border control/security. Virtually every poll of the public and Congress agree that we need more border security. This bill does not guarantee any increased border security. It legalizes millions before any improvement of border security

The Congressional Budget Office weighed in on this bill, reporting it would result in a net positive financial impact on America over 10 years. However, the CBO also reported the bill would only reduce illegal immigration by 25 percent. This means we will have legalized up to 11 million illegals and only reduced additional illegals in the future by a small amount. This guarantees we will be revisiting this issue again within another 10 years.

Note that when former President Ronald Reagan signed the last amnesty in 1986, Congress committed to control the border. It did not happen.

If you legalize millions without a secure border you have only encouraged those who want to come to America in any way then can. That means more and more illegal invaders.

If you really believe that this Congress and this president will secure the border, please contact me. I have many deals just for you.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Bill Francis

Summerfield

Time for trimming

I would just like to say as a retired law enforcement officer, I do not agree with Sheriff Chris Blair’s request for so massive a tax increase in the present economic times. I’m sure a lot of trimming of pork can alleviate some of this problem. We all have to tighten the belt. If times are as desperate as he states, live within our means. I can’t go to my neighbors and ask them for money because I ran out. Suggestions: Give the deputies a couple of ticket books and let’s write some tickets to some violators who cannot seem to understand what a traffic sign/signal means. And there are many — I see it every day. Stop the take-home cars for everyone from the top to the bottom. Give me a case of ticket books and an unmarked unit, and I’ll show you how it’s done.

<p><strong>Know the driving laws</strong></p><p>Hopefully we are back into our normal afternoon shower season.</p><p>Driving to and from home Tampa Sunday I was amazed at the number of drivers who used their four-way flashers during the rain. It is, as I understand, against the law. Not only that, many cars didn't have their lights on.</p><p>Let this be a reminder to these “old” laws while we familiarize ourselves with the new laws that were enacted and put into effect this week.</p><p><em>Midge Lee</p><p>Ocala</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Stop the foolishness</strong></p><p>I have been fuming for days over the treatment of Paula Deen. This woman has worked hard all her life and is now being crucified for being honest. What is this world coming to?</p><p>I am seriously thinking of boycotting Walmart and others who have taken away all that she has worked so long for. It is time to stop this foolishness about everything being racist. Let's face it: Racism is a two-way street. We are all Americans, no matter our skin color or where we were brought up. I went to live in New York and was surprised to learn that people who said 'dese, dem and does' plus 'Toidy Toid and Toid Street' thought I was the one with an accent.</p><p>My motto is and always has been “equal rights for all, special privileges for none.” Be confident in your own skin and stop worrying about what others say and do. I personally think President Barack Obama is the worst leader this country has ever been subjected to, and it has nothing to do with the color of his skin. If it makes people happy to think I'm a racist, so be it. That is their problem, not mine.</p><p><em>Lorena Frazier</p><p>Ocala</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>All created equal</strong></p><p>Back in 1776, some men got together and formulated a document intended to form a new land with a new system of government. One statement in the document says “All men are created equal.” In their time this did not include women or people of African heritage. Since that time, women and people of African heritage have won the right to be included in the aforementioned statement of equality. This was not an easy task. Certainly there has been tremendous progress in our treatment of the voting process. The Supreme Court has deemed that enough progress has been made in the area of voting laws that preclearance for law changes is no longer needed. While in the greater sense this is true, there remains opportunities to make changes intended to hinder some voter participation. Such was the case with the voting law in Florida. It was not a pretty picture.</p><p>While government oversight is unpopular, it is sometimes beneficial to the health and well-being of our nation. A previous writer quoted former President John F. Kennedy: “Ring the bells of freedom.” Absolutely! Let it ring for every citizen of this great country, regardless of gender, race, religion or national heritage. Without checks and balances we will see repetition of what happened in Florida throughout our country. I, for one, cannot see this as a good thing.</p><p><em>Deborah Parsons</p><p>Ocala</em></p><p> </p><p><strong>Immigration reform?</strong></p><p>Welcome to “immigration reform.” Is this a great country or what?</p><p>The Senate copied the Obamacare back room tactics with their immigration legislation.</p><p>Once again, the “more equal than others” such as Sen. Harry Reid got paid off with political financial payoffs. Once again the bill was created and totally controlled by a few in the back room. Once again, few if any amendments were permitted, and those allowed did not do what they promised. Once again, no one read the bill.</p><p>The critical issue of this legislation is border control/security. Virtually every poll of the public and Congress agree that we need more border security. This bill does not guarantee any increased border security. It legalizes millions before any improvement of border security</p><p>The Congressional Budget Office weighed in on this bill, reporting it would result in a net positive financial impact on America over 10 years. However, the CBO also reported the bill would only reduce illegal immigration by 25 percent. This means we will have legalized up to 11 million illegals and only reduced additional illegals in the future by a small amount. This guarantees we will be revisiting this issue again within another 10 years.</p><p>Note that when former President Ronald Reagan signed the last amnesty in 1986, Congress committed to control the border. It did not happen.</p><p>If you legalize millions without a secure border you have only encouraged those who want to come to America in any way then can. That means more and more illegal invaders.</p><p>If you really believe that this Congress and this president will secure the border, please contact me. I have many deals just for you.</p><p>Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.</p><p><em>Bill Francis</p><p>Summerfield</em></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Time for trimming</strong></p><p>I would just like to say as a retired law enforcement officer, I do not agree with Sheriff Chris Blair's request for so massive a tax increase in the present economic times. I'm sure a lot of trimming of pork can alleviate some of this problem. We all have to tighten the belt. If times are as desperate as he states, live within our means. I can't go to my neighbors and ask them for money because I ran out. Suggestions: Give the deputies a couple of ticket books and let's write some tickets to some violators who cannot seem to understand what a traffic sign/signal means. And there are many — I see it every day. Stop the take-home cars for everyone from the top to the bottom. Give me a case of ticket books and an unmarked unit, and I'll show you how it's done.</p><p><em>Joseph Koons</p><p>Ocala</em></p>